Means for the opening and closing of windows, vents or the like



NOV. 1957 I J. 5. BENTLEY 2,814,483

MEANS FOR THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF wmuows, VENTS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1955 United States Patent lVIEANS FOR THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF WINDOWS, VENTS OR THE LIKE James Sydney Bentley, London, England, assignor to Teleflex Incorporated, Wilmington, Del., a company of Delaware Application February 16, 1955, Serial No. 488,569

11 Claims. (Cl. 268-21) This invention relates to means for the opening and closing of windows, vents or the like and particularly to an arrangement wherein such means comprises a plurality of similar coaxially aligned mechanisms to be rotated simultaneously by a driven shaft, each mechanism including movement and power transmission means operable from the shaft.

In accordance with the present invention, each similar mechanism operated from the driving shaft includes a singleor multiple-spindle screw jack operated by axially fixed nut means of such character that the reaction forces to sustain the windows in the open position are axial to each jack and its nut. Thus, this reaction has no factor operating radially or otherwise in relation to the rotary shaft or tube by which the nuts of the jacks are operated.

It is, of course, true that the operating shaft for the multiplicity of jacks is under torsional stress whilst the windows are being opened but once they have been set to any desired open position (between the closed and the maximum opening) there is no reaction torque on the operating shaft, tube or the like.

Thus it is possible to have a plurality of similar mechanisms each for its own window or the whole applied in various longitudinal positions regarding the axis of movement for a large window working about a pivotal axis and whereby each nut is rotated from a common drive which may be a power or hand drive.

Obviously, the drive is wholly inefiicient, that is to say, the power taken to raise the window or windows into position is only a slight proportion of the total power used, more especially as between the eifective member of each jack which is connected to the window and the driving shaft or tube, the geared reduction is great.

In preferred cases in the operative position each jack has a worm mounted in suitable bearings and connected to the drive shaft or the like. This worm meshes with a worm-wheel formed on the exterior of the nut of the jack and this nut is internally threaded to mesh with the screwthreaded member of the jack which may be the only screwthreaded member, or which may be one member of two or more in a screw-threaded telescopic series. Preferably this casing has an abutment surface or surfaces on which the nut rides with or without the interposition of a thrust bearing and which actually takes the weight, pressure or other reaction.

In preferred constructions each mechanism comprises a casing which houses a combined worm-wheel and nut, the former to mesh with the driving worm and the latter to co-operate with the screw-threaded jack stem, and which casing further, in a position axially at right angles from the screwed stem, has laterally extending tubular trunnions forming bearings for the spindle of the worm which meshes with the worm-wheel and is located in a housing portion in the casing, and which trunnions themselves are mounted in bearings carried by a fixed part of the structure having the windows or the like, to permit the angular movement due to the opening and closing of the window. For convenience of assembly and manufacture,

such casing for housing the combined worm-wheel and nut and the worm with its spindle is made in two similar parts divided by a plane containing the axis of the worm and normal to that of the nut, suitably secured together.

Further, the bearings in which the trunnion-like extensions of this two-part casing are mounted can be made from portions of an extruded section, which latter includes the bearing proper and slotted clamping means by which the said bearing proper can be adjustably secured in position.

In order that the invention may be better understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example only and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a building with a plurality of windows or vents in the roof.

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but of such a building in which the plurality of windows on each side is combined in one vent.

Fig. 3 is an elevation largely in section of one embodiment of a mechanism in accordance with the present invention to a much larger scale and for installation in each i operative position of the structure shown in Fig. 1 or 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 but of portions thereof shown in outside elevation.

Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 3 substantially in the direction of the arrow 5, with parts in section and with added parts, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a diagram of a building 7 having a sloping gable roof, one downwardly inclined part 8 of which has a plurality of similar windows or vents 9 hinged about their upper ends. These are adapted to be opened and closed by the up and down movements of screwed stems 10 pivotally attached at their upper ends to the lower horizontal frame members of the windows and engaged (as hereafter described) in and by nut means rotatably mounted but held axially by a fixed part of the building.

In place of a plurality of windows or vents 9 there can be a continuous window or vent 11 as shown in Fig. 2 but with a corresponding plurality of spaced-apart and parallel screwed stems 10 for its operation.

In Fig. 3, 12 represents the lower free movable edge of a window or vent 9 or 11 and to an internally projecting flange 13 thereof there is bolted a forked bracket 14 to take a horizontal pivot pin 15 passing through the upper apertured end of the screwed stem 10.

16 is a right-angled bracket bolted to the fixed frame 17 of the roof portion 8 and with which fixed frame the window or vent 9 or 11 co-operates; these parts as shown in Fig. 3 are in the closed position.

The bracket 16 by its projecting flange carries two adjustably spaced bearings 18 each formed from a cut-off portion of an extruded section member of the shape seen clearly in Fig. 4. Each such bearing includes the bored bearing portion proper and a recessed and slotted clamping portion 19 by which it is adjustably held on the bracket by a co-operating clamping bolt and nut 20 as shown in Fig. 3.

The two bearings 18 are for the pivotal mounting of a two-part casing. This casing comprises an upper half 21 and a lower half 22 (Fig. 6) identical in shape which are attached together by screws 23 which pass through clearance bores in the half 21 and engage in tapped bores in the half 22.

When assembled, this casing comprises two axially aligned bored bosses 24 and 25 which open into an inner housing 26 for a combined worm-wheel and nut 27 the upper and lower faces of which abut against thrust flanges of line'r'sleeves 28 and 29 in the bores of the bosses 24 and respectively. The bore of this worm-wheel and nut member 27 has a female thread to correspond with that of the screwed stem 10 which preferably is multistart (double, treble, quadruple, or otherwise).

A worm 30 meshes with the worm-wheel member 27 (Figs. 3 and 6) and is located in a housing 31 the axis of which comes at right angles to that of the screwed stem 10. At each side this housing 31 has tubular extensions 32 which form bearings for the spindle 33 of the worm 30, this spindle structurealso including thrust collars 34. These two extensions 32 form trunnions which are mounted in the bearings 18 (Fig. 5).

The ends of the spindle 33 project from the extensions 32 and terminate in four-sided bulbous enlargements 35 the section of which in all positions in planes at right angles to the axis is square.

It will be understood that by rotating the worm 30 from one or the other of the bulbous ends 35 the rotation of the worm-wheel and nut member 27 is effected which in turn causes the projection or retraction of the screwed stem 10. Thus, if the rotation is in the direction to project the stem 10 from the position shown in Pig. 3, then the window or vent (9 or 11) will be opened in the direction of the arrow 36 (Fig. 3).

To accommodate the angular opening movements of the window it will be appreciated that the two-part casing 21-42 turns around the axis of the "worm 31 by the tubular extensions 32 rotating in the bearings 18. That is, the worm spindle 33 rotates in the tubular extensions 32 and these in turn in the bearings 18.

As will be apreciated, a mechanism as thus far particularly described is set up in every position required, such for example as diagrammatically illustrated by the position of the screwed stems 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 and moreover they are simultaneously operated as follows.

It will be appreciated that when the mechanisms are so set, the worm spindles 33 of each mechanism come in axial alignment or approximately in such axial alignment at required spacings and according to the invention each mechanism is connected to the next adjacent by a torque-transmitting tubular shaft 37 having adjustably positioned connectors 33 fixed at its two ends, each said connector having a squared end 39 to engage, possibly with slight play, the square bulbous end 35 of the particular worm spindle concerned.

It may here be remarked that the said bulbous ends 35 and the squared ends 39 of the connectors 38 act somewhat in the mannerof universal joints to compensate for slight lack of alignment or slight unavoidable angular irregularities.

Although not absolutely necessary, in some cases the end of the screwed stem which projects inwardly may be covered-in by a dust tube. Such a tube is shown at 40 (Figs. 3 and 5), the upper end coming around the projection of the liner sleeve 29 and the lower end 41 being closed. Again, although in the particular example shown the screw jack has a single screwed stem 10, in some cases this stern may have one or more telescopic screw-threaded members associated therewith to form a telescopic jack.

According to the exact installation, in a defined position (for example on the exterior or interior of a building such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) there is fixed to the framework of the structure a frictional horsepower electric motor which is geared to what may be regarded as the operative shaft formed by the aligned torque-transmitting tubes 37, connectors 38 and worm spindles 33. Obviously, suitable control and switch means are provided according to whether the windows have to be opened or closed and preferably there is also included overload clutch release means. The driving installation can be connected to the aligned mechanisms and tubular shaft sections 37 by a similar tubular shaft section having at its ends adjustably positioned connectors one of which is connected to the bulbous end 35 of the adjacent jacl: mechanism and the other to the actual final shaft of the driving mechanism of the motor installation.

Assuming the windows such as 9 are all in the closed position (or the vent 11 in the closed position) when the motor is switched into circuit all the windows gradually are raised by the rotation of the torque-transmitting tubes and the parts axially connected thereto, a comparatively great number of rotations being necessary fully to open the windows. When the required opening has been reached, the drive can be stopped and obviously the control can include means for automatic stopping upon attaining any desired degree of opening.

When in the open position, it will be obvious that the down pressure on the screwed stems 10 due to the weight, wind or otherwise is in no way transmitted to the torque transmitting tubes 37 but in this state they could be rcmoved and the windows would still remain open. In other words, there is no torque transmitted to these tubes by reaction from the windows and the only torque they undergo is the driving torque for the opening or closing of the windows.

When it is desired to close the windows or to lessen the opening, the rotation of the torque tubes and can nected parts is reversed until the windows are closed or the restricted opening attained.

Regarding Figs. 1 or 2, obviously in such a structure there may be windows on the other side of the roof truss and these can be simultaneously opened and closed with the first set of windows, or independently through another drive.

Still further, in such a structure, in addition to windows in the roof or in place of such windows, there may be windows in the side walls. These latter can be independently operated on each side or both sides operated simultaneously, or one or both sides operated at the same time as those in the roof.

The invention is not limited to the precise forms or details of construction herein described, as these may be varied to suit particular requirements.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a system for opening and closing pivotally mounted windows and the like, a unit comprising a casing including internal bearing means, a driving member rotatably mounted in said bearing means and adapted to be connected to a drive shaft axially aligned therewith, an elongated jack member operatively interconnected with said casing and movable transversely of the axis of said drive member to and from extended and retracted positions, actuating means carried by said casing and engaging said driving and jack members, said actuating means upon rotation of said driving member being driven for extending and retracting said jack member, and additional bearing means on said casing concentric with said internal bearing means and cooperable with fixed support. bearing means to mount said casing for pivotal movement about the axis of said drive member, whereby a plurality of said units may be aligned and operated from a single drive shaft.

2. A unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said casing includes a tubular portion having concentric inner and outer surfaces respectively providing portions of said internal and said additional bearing means.

3. A unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said casing includes a pair of oppositely extending axially aligned tubular portions at opposite sides thereof, said tubular portions having concentric internal and external cylindrical surfaces respectively providing said internal and additional bearing means.

4. A unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said driving member comprises a worm, said jack member includes a screw member, and said actuating means comprises a combined worm wheel and nut member rotatably mounted and retained against axial movement within said casing and meshing with said worm and threadedly receiving said screw member.

5. A system for opening and closing a plurality of pivotally mounted windows and the like comprising drive shaft means including a plurality of substantially axially aligned connected portions traversing a plurality of windows and the like, a plurality of spaced units respectively associated with said drive shaft means and said windows and the like, each of said units comprising a casing including internal bearing means rotatably receiving a portion of said drive shaft means, the bearing means of said units being substantially axially aligned and the drive shaft portions therein including drive members, each casing also including external bearing means concentric with said first mentioned bearing means and adapted to be pivotally retained by fixed substantially axially aligned bearings for supporting said casing for pivotal movement around the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft means, an elongated jack member operatively connected with each of said casings for axial movement transversely of the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft means, an outer end of each jack member being connectable adjacent a marginal portion of an associated window, and actuating means carried by each of said casings and driven by said drive members for positively extending and retracting said jack members upon rotation of said drive shaft means, said casings pivoting about the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft means upon extension and retraction of said jack members when the jack members are operated and are connected to pivotally mounted windows and the like.

6. A system, as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said drive members comprises a worm, each of said actuating means comprises a combined worm wheel and nut member meshing with an associated worm, and each of said jack members comprises a screw member threadedly received in an associated nut member.

7. A system, as defined in claim 6, wherein said drive shaft section includes an axially adjustable connector 40 having said socket ends.

8. A system, as defined in claim 5, which includes a plurality of fixed bearing means mounted on support means and respectively receiving said second mentioned bearing means of said casings, each of said fixed bearing means comprising a bracket fixed to said support means, and a section including a bearing proper and a slotted clamp portion adjustably retained by clamping means carried by the bracket and extending through the slotted clamp portion.

9. A system, as defined in claim 5, wherein each drive shaft means portion in each of said casings is formed as one part of a coupling which connects each of said last mentioned portions with a drive shaft section extending between said units.

10. A system, as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said drive shaft means portion in said casings includes an end which is bulbous and of square section for connection with a square section socket end of a drive shaft section.

11. A system, as defined in claim 5, which includes an electric motor driving'means having a driving shaft connected to an end of a drive shaft means portion within an adjacent casing by a shaft section including opposite end coupling means cooperating with complementary coupling means on said motor driving shaft and said end of said drive shaft means portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 328,722 Shaw Oct. 20, 1885 561,896 Krickl June 9, 1896 703,669 Prior July 1, 1902 1,014,679 Von Wagner Jan. 16, 1912 1,594,011 Herman July 27, 1926 1,732,709 Bartholomew Oct. 22, 1929 2,072,468 Saur et a1. Mar. 2, 1937 2,674,453 Hummert Apr. 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,873 Great Britain 1910 

